Nozzle



Nov. 28, 1950 H. s. BOWER 2,531,666

NOZZLE Filed April 9 1945 IN VENTOR.

Patented Nov. 28, 1950 NOZZLE Howard S. Bower, South Bend, Ind., assignor to Bendix Aviation Corporation, South Bend, 11111., a corporation of Delaware Application April 9, 1945, Serial No. 587,349

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to pressure discharge nozzles of the type commonly used in direct fuel injection systems for internal-combustion engines.

An object of the invention is to provide a nozzle of the type specified incorporating certain novel and improved features which tend to eliminate leak hazards, permit small size, light weight and reduced cost of manufacture.

Another object isto provide a nozzle of the type specified havin a valve controlling injection which in the event of breakage of some portion of the valve, the latter will still automatically function as an emergency valve until a replacement unit can be installed.

Another object is to provide an injection nozzleutilizing a valve having a valve-seating spring and wherein there is a free flow of fuel to the discharge or injection opening at all times irrespective of compression or close'coiling of the spring.

A further object of the invention is to generally improve nozzles of the type specified.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent in view of the following description taken in. conjunction with the drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a substantially central longitudinal section of a nozzle in accordance with the invention;

Figures 2, 3 and 4 are views taken respectively on the lines 2-4, 3-3 and 6-4; Figure l; and

Figure is a detail perspective view of a locking sleeve or ring forming part of the nOZZle assembly.

Referrin to the drawing in detail, the nozzle comprises a nozzle body, generally indicated at l0, having at one extremity an externally threaded reduced portion 5 l adapted to be threaded into the wall of a combustion chamber, and at its opposite extremity another reduced portion [2 formed with a plurality of axiallyextending spline grooves 13, note Figure 3, for a purpose to be described. The reduced portion ll is formed with a bore or passage M terminating in an injection opening having Walls defining the needle valve I6 is formed with a tapered combined spray tip and valve member I 9 adapted to seat in the injection opening !5; and at its opposite end said needle valve is provided with an emergency or safet valve member 28, shown as of tapered contour and adapted to seat in a valve port 2| formed in the fuel-intake passage of a fuel line connector 22, which is threaded into the nozzle body and secured in place against a semi-hard gasket 23 in a manner to be described.

A spring retainer 24 is seated in a recess 25 formed in the nozzle body; and a spring 26 en circles the stem portion I! of the valve 16 and at its one end is seated on said retainer, the latterbeing formed with a plurality. of slots 2'! to facilitate entry of fuel into. the passage or bore [4 in the event the spring 26 is closely coiled and tends to restrict passage of fuel between the coils. At its opposite end, the spring 26 engages another retainer 28 having therein a. splitwasher or bushing 29 engaging the undercut portion of the valve member 20.

The connector 22 and nozzle body H] are assembled in a manner such that when the connector reaches seated position, it may be convem'ently locked in such position. With this in view, the fuel.line-connector 22 is of external polygonal shape as best shown in Figure 2, in the present instance, of hexagonal or six-sided construction, and a locking sleeve or ring 39 is adapted to be inserted over the connector, said ring being of internally-serrated or polygonal shape defining a multiple of axially-extending V- shaped grooves adapted to engage over the ridges formed on the connector 22, note Figures 2 and 5. In the example shown, there are twelve grooves in thesleeve Stto accommodate the six ridges resulting from the hexagonal shape of the connector 20. A spline or tongue 3! projects axially from the ring 30 and is adapted to engage in any selected one of the slots l3, note Figure 3. After the connector 22 has been threaded into the nozzle body ill to seated. position, it may be locked in such position or within suitable tolerances thereof simply by properly locating the sleeve. 39. Asplit locking ring or spring 32 is mounted in an annular groove 33 provided. therefor to prevent outward displacement of the sleeve 36; it is bowed axially of the nozzle to apply tension to the sleeve.

The manner in which the nozzle operates will be apparent to those having a knowledge of the fuel-injection art. Briefly, however, fuel is conducted under pressure to the chamber 34 from a suitable regulating or timing means, such as an engine-driven injection pump generally used in injection systems; and when the pressure attains a predetermined value, the valve [9 opens and fuel is discharged under pressure through the opening IS in the form of a cone-shaped spray. Irrespective of how close the coils of the spring 26 may come during injection, fuel may still freely flow through the radial slots or openings 2'! formed in the retainer 24 to the bore M. In case of breakage of the stem of valve 85, the spring 26 immediately forces the emergency valve into port 2!, thereby preventing evacuation of the fuel line and the engine from running excessively rich, and permitting the nozzle to function as an emergency unit until proper repairs or replacements can be made.

In assembling the parts of the nozzle, the valve 56 may be inserted through the bore or passage M from the right as viewed in Figure l, the retainer 24, spring 26, retainer 28 and split washer 29 then applied, after which the fuel line connector 22 may then be threaded into the nozzle body ill and locked in place by means of the locking sleeve 30.

In order to adjust the pressure required for opening the valve II, it is only necessary to add one or more shims or washers to the retainer 28.

The nozzle may be made small and compact and the cost thereof is relatively low compared to prior known types of fuel injection nozzles.

It will be obvious that certain change in construction and design of the several parts are contemplated within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An injection nozzle comprising a nozzle body having a flow passage therein terminating in an injection opening, a port through which fuel fiows to said passage, said port and injection opening being in spaced series flow relation, a movable valve member including a stem united to a valve element controlling said injection opening and another valve element adapted to control said inlet port, and spring means normally urging said valve elements toward seated position, the length of the stem and the location thereon of said valve elements being such that as long as the stem and said first-named valve element remain intact, only said first-named element is seated by said spring means, but in the event of breakage of the stem or said first-named element said second-named valve element will be seated by said spring.

2. In a nozzle of the type specified, a flow passage terminating in an injection opening, a port through which fuel flows to said passage, a mov-- able valve member mounted in said passage and including a stem having a valve element united therewith at one extremity thereof adapted to control said injection opening and another valve element united therewith at its opposite extremity adapted to control said inlet port, and a spring encircling said stem and normally urging both of said valve elements toward seated position, the stem being of a length such that as long as the stem and said first-named valve element remain intact, onl the latter element is seated by said spring, but in the event of breakage of said stem or said latter element, said secondnamed valve element is seated by said spring.

3. An injection nozzle comprising a nozzle body having a bore therein defining a fuel duct or passage terminating in an injection opening, a valve member comprising a valve stem having integral therewith a combined valve element and spray tip at one extremity and a valve element at its opposite extremity, a port through which fuel flows to said passage, and a spring encircling said stem and, urging said valve elements towards seated position, the length of the stem being such that as long as the combined valve element and spray tip is seated by the spring, said secondnamed element is held clear of said port, but in the event of breakage or failure of said stem and/or first-named element, said second-named element is released and is seated by said spring.

4. An injection nozzle comprising a, nozzle body having a chamber therein and a bore defining a fuel passage receiving fuel from said chamber and terminating in an injection opening, a port through which fuel flows to said chamber, a valve assembly mounted in said chamber and bore and including a valve having a stem slidable in said bore and a combined valve element and spray tip at one end controlling said injection opening, the opposite end of said stem being provided with a valve element adapted to close said inlet port, and a spring encircling said stem and normally urging said combined valve element and spray tip towards seated position, said secondnamed element being held clear of said inletport as long as said stem and combined valve element and spray-tip remain in unbroken condition.

5. An injection nozzle comprising a body member having an enlarged portion and a reduced portion having therein a fuel flow passage terminating in an injection opening, a fuel-line connector engaged with said enlarged portion and in conjunction therewith defining a chamoer in communication with said flow passage and having a port through which fuel flows from the fuel line to the chamber, a valve assembly mounted in said chamber and passage and comprising a stem having a tapered valve element and spray tip at one end controlling said injection opening and a valve element at its opposite end adapted to control said port, and a spring encircling that portion of said stem which projects into the said chamber and normally seating said combined valve element and spray tip when the latter is in non-injecting position, said stem being of such length as to hold the second-named valve element clear of said port as long as the stem remains intact and operatively connected to said combined valve element and spray tip.

6. An injection nozzle comprising a nozzle body having a fuel duct or passage terminating in an injection opening, a valve member movably mounted in said passage and provided with a stem carrying a valve element controlling said opening, a spring encircling said stem and normally urging the valve element in a direction to close said opening, and a retainer seating said spring and formed with one or more flow ports or passages to permit fuel to by-pass the spring in flowing to said passage should the coils of the spring come so close as to restrict flow of fuel therebetween.

7. An injection nozzle comprising a nozzle body having a fuel passage terminating in an injection opening, a valve member having a stem movable in said passage and a valve element controlling said opening, a spring encircling said stem and seated at one end around the entrance to said passage, and means seating said spring having one or more fuel flow ducts permitting fuel to flow into said passage in the event the coils of the spring become so closely spaced as to restrict flow of fuel therebetween.

8. An injection nozzle comprising a nozzle body formed with a fuel duct or passage terminating in an injection opening, said body having an interiorly threaded enlarged portion, a fuel line connector threaded into said enlargement and providing a chamber in communication with said bore, a valve assembly including a stem located partly in said bore and partly in said chamber and having at one end thereof a valve element controlling said injection opening and at its opposite end another valve element adapted to control said port, a pair of spring retainers, one being located at the entrance to said bore and the other engaging the valve element which is adapted to control said port, a spring encircling said stem with its opposite ends engaging said retainers, said stem being of a length such as to normally hold said second-named valve element clear of said port and said spring applying a force tending to urge said towards seated position in said injection opening, but in the event of breakage of said stem and/or latter element, tending to seat said second-named valve element in said port.

HOWARD S. BOWER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 142,122 1 Ross Aug. 26, 18"?3 956,082 Hannigan Apr. 26, 1910 1,836,343 Smith Dec. 15, 1931 1,933,948 Widmann Dec. 12, 1933 2,210,345 Sheppard Aug. 6, 1940 2,358,494 Haines Sept. 19, 1944 2,375,492 Purdy et a1. May 8, 1945 first-named valve element 

